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Rabat – Morocco’s Head Coach Reynald Pedros has expressed his delight and pride after the Atlas Lionesses secured their spot in the Round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, attributing their victory to King Mohammed VI’s encouragement.
“The qualification is truly fantastic. His Majesty King Mohammed VI supported us after the Germany match, and his encouragement gave us the strength to become the first Arab team to reach this stage,” said the coach.
Pedros made the remarks in a press conference following Morocco’s remarkable 1-0 victory against Colombia today.
He reflected on Morocco’s opening match against Germany, during which the Moroccan squad sustained a devastating 6-0 loss.
“Facing Germany in the opening game was tough since they are a well-prepared team with vast experience. It was our first time competing at this level, and emotions were running high, resulting in a significant loss,” he explained.
Read also: Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses Leave World Mesmerized With Historic Achievement
However, Morocco was quick to get back on track, securing their first-ever World Cup win after beating South Korea 1-0 last week, followed by today’s win against Colombia 1-0.
With Germany’s game against South Korea ending in a 1-1 tie, Morocco secured the second spot in Group H’s standings with six points while Colombia led the group, also with six points but a superior goal difference.
Despite the initial setback, Pedros emphasized that the team never gave up and approached subsequent matches with determination. “We did not give up. We tried to play fast and in our favor, considering there were only three matches in the group stage.”
Soon after, Morocco’s focus shifted to preparing for the remaining matches against South Korea and Colombia, as they aimed to turn the tide and make a statement in the tournament, he added.
“Our achievement of this historic qualification is attributed to the fact that we deserve it,” Pedros concluded.
